Hidden Yuuzhan Vong Enclave

[lotvashai]

K'litch Vang's time in the embrace of pain would soon be through, but only when he came back to them completely, and the Priestess was satisfied that he had cleansed enough. It had seemed like a small eternity had passed already, particularly to Lotva Shai, who was mulling over the events she had just heard of, in the darkest recesses of her mind. It was impossible...yet somehow plausible at once.

But the Loyalists couldn't be behind what she had heard...they venerated - no, it couldn't be them.

The news that had so serruptitiously reached her ears was that of a highly explosive - literally - event. Several Klekkets ago, Lotva Shai had come across the knowledge that the current leader of the grey Jeedai, had been venerated by the loyalists as the Avatar of Yun-Ne'shel. This had been instrumental in binding the loyalties of several well known shapers to the sekotan cause...and therefore depriving the traditionalists of much needed personnel. She had tried time and again to bring about the fall of this Aeron, but had always fallen short, however good the signs from the gods.

Now, it seemed, someone had beaten her to it.
The message was a simple one, a Yuuzhan Vong friggate had been responsible for shooting down and possibly killing this Aeron of the grey Jeedai, and not only that, her young offspring too. Reports on the abominable holonet were keeping schtum, but there had been word through other branches worth tapping, that this has been the work of the traditionalists. This being so, it could not have been anything she, herself would have done, nor had she sanctioned the tracking of one such Jeedai. The plan, had been to lay low here, until they were again in a position that meant they could strike out against their foes decisively.

So who were these faux traditionalists? And what did they want? To make the traditionalists a scapegoat was far too easy, simplistic, and downright naive - they would never have denied such actions, especially when the outcome was so...expediently favourable. It wasn't the Yuuzhan Vong way to deny involvment in something they were so very much a part of, the true way was never to be denied, and this adhered very much to just that.
Little trace of the friggate that had caused the destruction, had remained, and what was there was being scavenged by the Jeedai themselves, she could have sent a vessel into the zone to try and recover what they could, analyse the dovin basal fragments for any traces of a gravatic signature...but it all hinged on a small possibility they would find something, and the risk outweighed the gain.

No, something was going on here, and they would keep their ears and eyes open for anything that would give clue as to where this vessel had appeared from - for there were no known survivors.

The Consul looked back at K'litch Vang then, noticing he was watching her, though through the hazy agonistic tension of pain, she could tell he had questions. She might answer them, when she had the answers herself.

[K'litch Vang]

The Embrace begins to loosen its grip as K'litch Vang no longer struggles the pain, he has fully accepted all he has seen and experienced in the Embrace's loving and deified arms. The searing fronds begin to retract with a unfavorable feeling from K'litch Vang, who now understands better why the Shai utilize the biot. The pain was something unmeasurable and yet still euphoric, something K'litch Vang never realized before. Maybe it was because it is the first time the Twin Gods graced Vang's presence.

Vang's feet begin to dangle and then his legs; soon enough his feet make contact with the ground of the chamber. K'litch Vang is soon standing, wobbly at first but the Yuuzhan Vong warrior shows his resolve. With an all too enlightened gaze, Vang bows his head to the priestess and most of all the Intendant.

[lotvashai]

She watched on while the warrior did his best not to simply stagger from the supporting limbs of the embrace, it was easily done, she recalled thoughtfully, remembering her first tentative times utilizing such a biot, she had only been a crecheling at the time, but the Shai initiated their young into the fold at the first opportunity, and as her failings had been a possibility to cause disgrace, she had experienced this earlier than most. Perhaps then, she thought to herself, it had been her saving grace after all - for were it not for such insight, her bones would line the charring pits with many a crecheling who was not 'perfect' in some way or another.

She remembered the moment she had stepped from the embrace, limbs shaking with the sheer effort of attempting to stand under her own weight again, she could have not been any older than five years of age. Her vision, once a constant shade of pure white, clouded by agony so intense she might have shamefully passed out, had the embrace allowed it - it would not of course, such biots were finely attuned to monitoring a subjects consciousness, maintaining a constant state of torment unlike anything she had ever known until that point. The need to lock her limbs to prevent them from collapsing beneath her, was essential, and she had staggered as a result. It was then that the creche attendant had told her that Yun-Harla had need of her...thus had begun a small eternity of training and doctrine, regimen's brought forth by the priests that prepared she, and those like her, for the life they would lead come their coming of age at the 12th year of their lives.

She had survived that, and much more since, and no doubt K'litch Vang had done likewise, she thought quietly, he bore the pain well, if it were something of a shaky start, not all domains were as strict as her own...mores to the pity.

The Consul inclined her head in response, a respectful sign that she had no real need of displaying to a subordinate, and so could be taken as something to be held in high regard instead, though constantly thoughts of what words the messenger had brought to her attention, repeated over and over in her confused mind.
Who would be willing to do them a favour and appear for all intents and purposes, to be of them as well?

Of course this didn't necessarily mean that this was a good thing either, it was entirely possible that a splinter group had formed among them, and would make a bid for supremacy when the time was most crucial...possibly usurping them in the process. None of them could afford that to happen.

Nehsta Ku was already at the warriors side before he had taken more than two paces from the burning fronds of the embrace of pain...still writhing somewhere there in the background, perhaps in disappointment after what must have seemed like an age of inactivity for the poor creature - she had seldom seen the inside of these walls lately. That would not do.

The priestess was already concerning herself with using the smoldering tishwii-twigs to sear closed the wounds that the warrior had sustained during his ritual, thus sanctifying them also, with little flourishes that accented the scars they would leave.

"As I informed Consul Lotva Shai, the portents were good, the gods approve of your actions taken on this world, so much so that I feel they will be at your side and at your back when next you face the Infidels." She was saying, her tone far from absent minded, more...enthralled.

It was an exciting time for all, it seemed.

Not content in her silence, but by no means wishing to interrupt the work of the gods, Lotva Shai begrudgingly kept her peace, for now.

[K'litch Vang]

"I too sense that..." K'litch Vang says as the priestess finishes searing the cut across his chest. "... for they were with me throughout the purification."

It was something Vang hadn't counted on; not once had he heard of the Yun-O being seen in a vision granted to a Yuuzhan Vong, that was something for the priest caste to see. However, today K'litch Vang has seen the will of the Gods and plans to see it through. He turns his gaze to Lotva Shai and bows his head to the Intendant. The Consul's mind is in the right place, Vang indeed has questions.

"I have never experienced a cleansing like that." Vang admits to Shai. "I see why many from Domain Shai fancy the Embrace's touch. Do the Gods speak to you when you purify, like really speak to you, Intendant?"

[lotvashai]

Her mind had been so fixated on other things, that the warriors question caught her in a rare moment of complete unguarded surprise. Incredulity, so stark it was obvious to all, caused one brow ridge to quirk suddenly, and a sudden interest glistened in her otherwise icy gaze as she spun sharply on her heel, pivoting to face K'litch Vang.

So sudden was her movement, that she could have sworn she had seen Nehsta Ku flinch.

"They spoke to you?" She hadn't expected to sound that surprised either, and though she had dulled her voice to barely a hissed whisper, the priestess was quick to catch onto what she had said and pounce as precisely as a bissop hound.

"Are you suggesting then, Consul, that somehow the gods would not speak to this warrior?" Nehsta Ku asked, taking far too much delight in making things awkward for Lotva Shai for once, rather than the other way around.

Well she wouldn't gain purchase.

"Not at all, I am merely intruiged to hear what it was that was said." She couldn't use the term curious, it wasn't a particularly worthy or rewardable trait, not one discussed openly or displayed among peers - she could order him to divulge the information of course, or...extract it in whatever sadistic means she saw fit, but that didn't always produce honesty...even with use of the haar vhnic.

"That would be for the seers to interpret, would it not? Perhaps K'litch Vang, himself." The priestess countered.

Lotva Shai belayed a deep and threatening growl before it gained purchase on her throat and strangled it's way to the fore. It wouldn't do to anger the deception sect, not until victory was secured, if it was one thing she was not, it was stupid.

"Belek tiu, Priestess, I would have need of information regarding the forthcoming subjugation of this world...as you know, I have particular authoratative interest in such things." Like much, she made a mockery of Nehsta Ku without being overt, calling much into question without actually comitting to it, an offence that the priestess could not take into account if she wished to punish her for anything. It was all these little loopholes, that got her her way in life.

"Of course, perhaps then it would be more expedient for you to answer the young warrior's question and then allow him to provide an answer?"

Very good - thought Lotva Shai at hearing that suggestion, she had countered perfectly, but still left her much room for movement, the outcome she had vyed for all along.

Stilling her ire, she returned her attention once more to the warrior, and proceeded to answer his question.

"They have, it is by far the most beneficial way to converse with them, it is what makes one great." Weather or not this was the truth, that the gods had actually spoken to her, she did not say, nor would she have, those words were for her alone, she kept much to herself, as was prudent.

[K'litch Vang]

K'litch Vang sees the tension between the priestess and Intendant steadily rising, much like rivals, but tension between the castes was nothing new. It was in the Yuuzhan Vong's nature to have conflict, if they had not invaded the galaxy so many cycles ago the Yuzhan Vong might have very well destroyed themselves. Vang isn't dunce to the oneupmanship, especially amongst the females of certain castes. These were two proud leaders and K'litch feels it is his duty to say something before coufees are drawn.

"The stood in splendor before me, calmed my inner mind during my cleansing." Vang says with great reverence, a sign he is not making this up. "They showed me this wretched world tore it in two, each of the Twin Gods holding a piece of it for themselves."

The symbolism could mean anything but one thing that is clear is that much turmoil and death lay ahead for Utapau. If the dark symbolism wasn't clear of the Yun-O's intentions for this world, Vang's next words could spell it out. "Then the Yun-o spoke as one, saying that the path is chosen, soon will the children of the Gods know the truth of the path and that darkness will envelop us all and bring us to the end"

K'litch Vang sees what he has seen as a sign that the Yuuzhan Vong will finally see their proper place in the galaxy as the bringers of the Gods will. He is sure how Lotva Shai sees this turn of events; K'litch Vang is still unaware of the apparent Yuuzhan Vong attck on the Grey Master Aeron and doesn't know if such things might be a sign of the beginning. K'litch Bows his head in respect. "That is all the God willed me to know..."

[lotvashai]

"And rightly so" Nehsta Ku was quick to cut in at the end of the warrior's verbal account of his visions, placing the smoldering tishwii sticks back in the bowl of leaves, that had now turned to little more than ashes. Carefully she placed it to one side upon a coral plinth, next to a series of villips that appeared too old and shriven to be anything but defunct, then she turned back to face them both, smoothing down the folds of her strangely knotted robeskin neatly.

"It is my belief that the gods have shown you the way, as they do to us all at some point in our lives - during my time as a seer, I was visited a great many times by such visions in both my waking hours and the night cycles devotions. It is only the Yuuzhan Vong who are able to realize these interpretations, bring the gods the glory they deserve to reap." She admonished gently, voice a lilting purr as it often seemed to be, subtly seductive and alluring, much like one of many sides to Yun-Harla herself. It would be of no surprise to learn then, that this one had many more facets to her, just as the goddess did too.

As a venerator of the trickster herself, Lotva Shai knew those traits well. Though she, chose to utilize them in a far more practical way.

"I need not insult you by explaining what you already know," The Consul uttered thoughtfully, temper cooled for the time being, "Particularly in light of recent events....during your cleansing I recieved some interesting news. I state interesting because it still confuses me somewhat, it makes little sense."

She frowned slightly, the Yuuzhan Vong equivelant of a shrug, before running a hand tiredly through her hair, capturing loose strands and securing them back in the severe knots that clung tightly to the back of her skull.

"News reached the ears of our scouts in the last known location of Zonama Sekot, that a grey Jeedai vessel was attacked, destroyed, a favourable scene, I am sure you will agree - if it were not for this perplexing fact." She paused dramatically for effect, "Sources are claiming, that it was a Yuuzhan Vong vessel that caused the destruction, before being destroyed it's self."

She watched the warrior closely for a moment, then shifted her gaze towards the priestess, who rightly showed no emotion for or against this turn of events.

"I see no reason why the loyalists would do such a thing...do you?"

[K'litch Vang]

"They loyalists are cowards, they turned away from the Gods teachings." K'litch Vang says with a slight growl at mention of the Yuuzhan Vong who broke from the true path, he finds it unlikely thar they would try to regain the Gods favor at this time. Even so, Vang believes that the two are linked by the will of the Yun-O. "I would not be surprised if the Gods spoke to others about this."

These turn of events begin looking like a sign to Vang; the plotting destruction of Utapau and the attack of Jeedai Master Aeron appears as a symbol to make haste on the attack. "These new conditions might speak for us to excellerate the Yun-O's plans for this world."

[lotvashai]

The warriors words seemed to inspire Nehsta Ku some, but Lotva Shai knew the reasoning behind it, rare was it - not to mention bold- that one other than a Yuuzhan Vong of a priest caste would dare to interpret the gods intentions openly. Though really, they were all guilty of doing such a thing at some time in their life, feeling the pang of mild fear at having blasphemed soon after. But in this instance, it had been Lotva Shai's trail of thought also.

She decided to do something most uncharacteristically kind and step in before the priestess decided to pull K'litch Vang up on it.

"I agree, such an overt sign how could they wish anything else?" She mused alloud, and Nehsta Ku stepped back half a pace, cool eyes appearing distant, pensive.

"It is possible..."She began, expression still instilling a look of her mind being elsewhere, "...the Priests of Yun-Yammka speak daily of the slayers thirst for the blood of those denied to him, this sacrifice would go a long way to sating such thirst."

Lotva Shai resisted the urge to smile knowingly, while her domain were among the most reverant when it came to the gods, she was under no illusions about how she could, or could not, bend the other castes to her will should she so wish it. It had been a particular tallent of hers for some time now, and it came from spending years among the perfidiously ominous, she wondered now weather or not Azca would deign to follow in her footsteps, or the footsteps once trodden by his father...it was an unsettling thought, for had they known the truth about his herritage, the aid she had received in his cleansing would perhaps have not been offered at all, much less would Azca himself have kept his life.
And I would lay lifeless and useless at the bottom of the charring pits She thought to herself, a rather distasteful outcome, especially when she still had so much to offer and all would be forgiven when victory was theirs.

And it would be.

"Then I propose we bring our plans forward, turn the eyes of the galaxy upon us in a new light, by the time that they realize what is truly upon them, we will have agents in place to neutralize the situations quickly. Yun-Harla will be most pleased, as will the slayer as soon as we root out the worthy." The Consul said, nodding in the direction of the attentive Priestess, who would have surely had something to say on the matter had she not included the god of war.

But it seemed, for reasons she could not place, that Nehsta Ku's attention had wandered yet again...she was young for her rank, and it showed in situations such as this, and Lotva Shai found it unseemly. Still, it was not her place nor caste to question.

"I concur, has all been set in place?" Ku asked with a raise of a slender brow-ridge.

Again Lotva Shai nodded, steepling her fingers infront of her before flexing them experimentally, the bone-seeded implants within extending the tallons of her left hand slightly as she did so, then retracting again.

"It is, thereabouts, nothing that cannot be dealt with most expediently." She responded evenly, it was just a matter of time, a short time.

The priestesses eyes glimmered brightly, as though enlightened and delighted all at the same time, and this time she smiled genuinely.

"Then I suggest that K'litch Vang is among those leading this mission, since it was he to whom the gods spoke."

[K'litch Vang]

"I would be honored to fulfill the will of the Yun-O." K'litch Vang says with a bowed head. He feels deeply honored that the priestess would recommend such a thing, at the same time however he feels some scheme behind it. Vang is unsure if Nu is trying to play a hand in this but is put at ease by a genuine smile.

"If that is the case, honorable Consul, I must finish preparing for the battle." Vang says with pride. "Priestess, I wish to make a blood offering to the Slayer. May I ask your aid in this?"

[lotvashai]

Nehsta Ku's eyes, still alight with the thoughts of possibility, and promising ones at that, did not dull any, even in this dim light - the caves were not ideally suited to this kind of thing, but they would do for now. It was not the caves that had her attention though, this warrior was ambitious and it showed, only natural for one of his age, though she found herself inwardly chuckling at the notion, considering she was a few years his junior. Still, not all had been born into the destiny she had.

Lotva Shai would be the one to put the stop on this from transpiring, ever a slave to the true doctrine, she often saw the practicalities in things where others did not, and more often than not voiced as such.

"Should you give blood sacrifice so soon, your condition may be hindered, the gods good graces squandered." She said with a slight hesitant growl to her tones, it was clear as day that she did not approve of this idea, weather or not the rather amarous Nehsta Ku was over eager or not...that one's deviations would get her into severe trouble one of these days, not even Yun-Harla would be able to intervene.

"Upon your successful return, of course you would be permitted to do so, perhaps even as a sign of your new status?" There the Consul laid the bare bones of the matter to him, he would surely find it appealing, "After all, escalation is the proferred method of reward for such gargantuan victories, small in terms of the greater plan, but hardly in terms of feat."

To Lotva Shai's surprise, Nehsta Ku seemed to find the sense in this, and merely nodded once in her direction, indicating good graces rather than opposition. Good, it would'nt do to have the priestess off side for this one, they needed all the approval they could get, the supreme one would surely find fault if any conflict among themselves began to occur.
And his suspicion concerning herself at present needed to be diverted.

"Achieve victory, give devotions, the gods will reward all."

[K'litch Vang]

K'litch Vang submitts to the will of Lotva Shai; however shallow the trust is in her, she has earned her respect this day and feels that he would be derelict if he does so today. The last thing he wants is to anger the Yun-O before the great slaughter. He bows his head in Lotva Shai's direction. "Of course, honorable Consul... until we return victorious."

The proud warrior keeps his head bowed in respect as he addresses Lotva Shai, she had shown him many wonders this day and now holds the Consul high in his opinion. "I will go a prepare myself." With a bow to Nu, K'litch now waits to be dismissed to be dismissed properly.

[lotvashai]

The cold had begun to take it's toll on Lotva Shai's body, seeping into her skin from every angle, she felt as though she was submerged in glacier water - which was not far from the truth. Her injuries combined with the long and painfully draining swim from the other side of the sinkhole, had made for a formidable foe. Forced to strip herself of anything that might weigh her down, she had the use of one arm only, and had it not been for the gnullith that was still affixed firmly to her face, several times there she might well have drowned. But it was bitter determination and the will to see glory brought to their gods that kept her going, they spoke to her through her pain, urging her to embrace the challenge and come through this to see their will done. She would do that...and then some.

Hauling herself out of the water, her one good arm nearly collapsed under her own weight, having been used to the water's molecular qualities supporting her weight for some time, it was a shock to her weakened system to do it all for herself again. Falling back onto a sun-drenched rock she managed to catch her breath.

When next she looked up, preparing for the off, she could see clear across the distance she had come - it was a long way, it looked impossibly long from her vantage point, and the way the worlds primary cast rays of argent light upon the water, made it blindingly difficult to see just how vast this sinkhole actually was on all sides as opposed to the distance she had just travelled.

The wound that had burned clear through her shoulder, now ached anew, an acute warning sign that the onset of bleeding would soon occur, that cauterization wasn't going to hold forever and it would do her good to get to the shapers as soon as possible. This was one thing, she knew, neathlats weren't going to fix. Gathering her strength, and indeed her limbs, she attempted to stand shakiliy, hand gaining purchase upon the rocks to the side of her. From here she would need to pick her way across the shoreline, until she found the carefully concealed pathway set into the stone, gnawed away by grutchina. It was this that would lead her back to the enclave.

[Emanon]

Getting out of the water, Volk looks around, finding a safe way across the water he makes his way to it. Jumping from one rock to the other he finally gets so a semi-dry area and looks up. Seeing the edge of the sinkhole way up there, was out of the question of climbing, and being he was now alone calling somebody would be a waste.

So he begins walking around, noticing water at the waters edge, he thought he was going in circles having gone back to where he got out of the water. Looking around he makes sure he wasn't lost, realizing he hadn't been there before, decides to follow the trail. Someone else was down there with him, and he wanted to know who.

Picking up his pace, he jogs after the water trail before it disapears......

[lotvashai]

The gentle 'spat, spat, spat' filtering into her ears gave the Consul cause to pause, about halfway up the hidden stony ramp. Looking down at her wounded shoulder, her eyes met the sight of several thin ribbons of blood trailing down her arm to the elbow, where it dripped off in thick globules of obsidian. A trail...she was leaving a trail.
Growling in annoyance, she pressed her good hand against the wound and tried to stfile it's attempts to bleed that way, she had left anything of use back at the collapsed communications post, so time was really of the essence here.

Had she been given more time, she might have picked her way back down the cliffside again, attempting to cover her tracks, for she knew not how long she had been leaving this trail...but it couldn't have been that far. Plus, she surmised that no one was following her - the Jeedai she had encountered should be dead and buried, both. She would have heard them.

In any case there was little reason to tarry here and there was scant chance that a single Jeedai would be able to stand up to an entire settlement full of Yuuzhan Vong - it would be pure stupidity on their part to attempt such a thing. Not that the Intendant was underestimating them, Lotva Shai knew first hand how much trouble one of these beings could be. But that had been trying to escape them, they had nowhere to run to on this world, it was already forsaken and the warriors were, no doubt, closing in on their ship abominations.

Having found her way to the mouth of a tunnel, one of only a few ways into their enclave, she slipped inside, hand still clamped tightly to her wounded shoulder. She needed to get this seen to.